Transportation inspiration

A week from Monday, the lawyer and former skateboard activist who became the most influential and controversial PDX transportation visionary you’ve never heard of will be gone from city government.

After six years as chief of staff to former Mayor Sam Adams and 20 months as Adams’ appointee to run the city’s transportation bureau, Tom Miller built a behind-the-scenes reputation for his floppy hair, sharp elbows, rapid political rise and powerful faith that bikes could help a city like Portland grow up gracefully.

New Mayor Charlie Hales fired Miller this month, one of his first actions in office, citing "major issues in the bureau."